Let there be music

The Huntington Beach Philharmonic’s Cruise of Lights Boat Tour begins tonight, a Huntington Harbour Christmas tradition for 45 years. What many of the spectating sailors don’t know though, is that the cost of their tour of the harbor’s lights goes to local school music programs.

The event raises about $25,000 each year, which is distributed to music departments across the county by the Orange County Philharmonic, the parent organization of the Huntington Beach chapter. The goal is to let children experience music first-hand.

Because of budget restraints, “the first thing they cut out in schools is music and arts,” says Ellen Halopoff, a 20-year Philharmonic Society member. “We had music, we got to learn instruments, but now some kids might not get within 10 feet of an instrument in school.”

Halopoff has witnessed up close the effect music has on the education process. She retired from teaching in Montebello, where she taught choir, orchestra and band. Her students would often find success in music later in high school.

“Two years later, they were marching up Colorado Boulevard in the Rose Parade,” Halopoff says.

Some even make careers out of it. Halopoff’s son Gary is a professional trumpet player, who himself now gives lessons. He says music classes help students learn teamwork, discipline, organization, logic, and even exercises the mathematical part of the brain.

More than that, it gave something for Gary Halopoff to look forward to in his day.

“It made me want to go to school,” he said.

The Philharmonic Society organizes numerous music events for children of all ages. Second graders get to see the Disneyland Band, while third graders are visited at school by Music Mobiles, which allow students to touch and play with instruments.

Musicians will often perform at schools, and classrooms sometimes take field trips to venues like the Orange County Performing Artscenter.

“It’s wonderful if you go to one of these concerts and see the kids dancing in their seats,” says Kimberly Willingham, co-chairwoman of the Philharmonic Society Committee. “That’s why I come in here.”

Local schools also benefit from the Cruise of Lights. Harbor View Elementary in Newport Beach will see a presentation by Pacific Woodwinds in February.

The growing Marina High School music department has also benefited from the philanthropy of the Huntington Beach Philharmonic. Last year, while the school was being remodeled, choir and band classes were separated and there was only one piano. Band director John McGilligan said the band needed another piano, and the philharmonic helped the program purchase a new electronic stand-up piano.

“The Huntington Harbour people were who to go to,” McGilligan said. “We would have never been able to afford it.”

Willingham says it’s a concerted volunteer effort to put on the Cruise of Lights. It’s a long project for hundreds of philharmonic volunteers and the harbor residents, who volunteer to light their homes for the cruise. “When they put the lights up, it’s huge for us.”

Halopoff agrees. “It takes a community that believes in what’s good for kids to make it happen.” She and other Huntington Harbour residents always get into the decorative Christmas spirit.

“People that have been around a long time love it, they look forward to it every year,” Halopoff says.

As do many of the tens of thousands of visitors who come to the Cruise of Lights each year. Willingham says people come from all over Southern California for the event that has become a local holiday tradition. The philharmonic routinely gets busloads of groups that come year after year.

This year’s cruise theme is “Surf City Sounds.” Visitors will climb aboard whale watching boats to view the dazzling light displays residents have erected on the water. They string lights on docked boats and the houses. One house has a giant wave of lights; another is done up like a gingerbread house. One of the waterfront homes has eight not-so-tiny surfboards with the names of Santa’s reindeer.

“People that take the cruise will be happy they did,” Halopoff says. “It’s always a pleasant surprise for me.”

IF YOU GO

WHO: Huntington Beach Philharmonic

WHAT: Cruise of Lights, a boat tour of Huntington Harbour’s holiday lights

WHEN: Nightly through Dec. 23; 6, 7 & 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 5:30, 6:30, 7:30 & 8:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday

WHERE: Huntington Harbour

COST: Tickets are $15 for adults, $9 for children on weekends; $13 for adults, $8.50 for children on weekdays.

Information: Visit www.cruiseoflights.org or call (714) 840-7542 for tickets and information.